[C.M.] Fitz Rebranding

The original [C.M.] Fitz referred to a single artist using traditional and non-traditional media through drawing & painting.  Some attempts in make-up design, installation, & video were created with the input & ideas of a partner.

After venturing into public art endeavors, collaborative installations, & concepts [C.M.] Fitz is now recognizing "Fitz" as a partner in the brand. “[C.M.]” becomes [C.M.] Fitz through collaborative installation, video, & graphic works with “Fitz” as an active partner.

Together we are [C.M.] Fitz.

Website formatting & content will be under construction until May 31st to create new exciting material for our viewers! We apologize for any jumbled information or disorganized content you may have the misfortune of seeing.  

Day Two-Painting in Process

I am working on building. Thinking about lightest lights and darkest darks. Mostly laying in mid-tone washes.

In Process-Day One in Painting Representationalism

Day 1 painting in process: I spent a very long time mixing colors.  I grew-up in Naples, Italy and I am using a color palette that reminds me of the landscape there. Yellows, browns, blues, greens, stark white. I am excited to see where this goes. Much of the process has been the same, washes, building around in a circle, letting my intuition guide me, though, I have been putting to practice my color theory knowledge to a greater degree than in most works.  Color has been carefully thought out in this one, not easy for a colorblind artist.

Fletcher Crossman

While working on my archiving project for City Gallery, I came across the 2007 Piccolo Spoleto exhibition flyer.  The show featured Fletcher Crossman, one of the first artists in a long time, to truly move me and teach me about my own work.

Seated Study, Acrylic on canvas, 54" x42"

Fletch, Acrylic on canvas, 9ft x 5 ft. 

Fletcher Crossman images taken from his personal site.

His work, has made me consciously think about the colors I am mixing, how I am applying them, and to still create intuitively, but in a more methodical manner.  He seems to capture the soul of his subjects in a way that is just so tangible. Like Fletcher, I too prefer to use an earthen color palette.  Fletcher is inspired by prehistoric works like those found in Lascaux, France.

Olga Stamatiou Artist Talk at City Gallery

This past Sunday at 3pm, I had the pleasure of becoming a part of a close knit group at Olga Stamatiou's artist talk.  Stamatiou spoke about her most recent exhibition of works at City Gallery in the show, Let Our Voices Emerge.  Over forty works fill the gallery walls with images of women in Burqas with a myriad of moods, intentions, and feelings.  Inspired by the events in Tahir Square, Stamatiou spoke about her intuitive creative process and how her works came to be.

Stamatiou describes herself as an expressionist creator, an artist that subjectively describes her reactions to real world events and distorting the perspective in an effort to make a statement to her viewers.  "[...] it is on canvas that I play out all the drama [...] that is important to me, " Stamatiou said in front her signature piece for the show Let Our Voices Emerge a work done on linen canvas in oil. 

Taken from citygalleryatwaterfrontpark.com

She claims creating these works "[...] made [her] bolder." She found the tufts of women organizing amidst chaos so powerful that she was forced react.  She uses strokes of bold color in juxtaposition with a muted palette to evoke the sense of hope in such a solemnly real atmosphere.

Though Stamatiou claims that the repetition in the use of a Burqa as a symbol for all women is her intention, one might wonder if it is symbolic in a more personal nature.  It is almost as if she is asking, "What if this woman was you?"

Painting is not the only way Stamatiou expresses herself, in addition to being a practicing artist, she also runs a non-profit that provides art installation work for child crisis centers such as orphanages, special needs centers, and places like MUSC.  Stamatiou was quoted saying "Things can't be dealt with if they are not out in the open." She hopes to take her paintings on tour through college campuses, to speak about cultural and gender specific issues.